Tag: Abia State

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Abia State on Friday displayed the list of eligible candidates for the 2019 governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Dr Alex Otti and Chief Uche Ogah made the list of 29 candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance and All Progressives Congress, respectively.

Dr Blessing Nwagba, representing Aba North Constituency in the state House of Assembly, also made the list as the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party.

NAN reports that the commission also released a list of 331 House of Assembly candidates for 36 political parties in the state.

The Commissioner of Finance in Abia State, Mr. Obinna Oriaku, has said that, contrary to speculations, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission only investigated him and four others for an alleged N6m fraud, rather than N200m as speculated.

The EFCC had done an investigation into the alleged financial misappropriation involving at least five officials of the Abia State Ministry of Finance.

The state’s Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi, disclosed this on Friday in Umuahia during a joint news briefing with the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Obinna Oriaku; Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos; and Dr. Moses Orji, a media aide to the governor.

The commissioner said that the anti-graft probe was prompted by a petition from a commissioner in the state Civil Service Commission, Mr. Guy Okite.

He said that four of the suspects worked in the payroll unit of the ministry of finance.

He said that the finance commissioner was also invited to explain some of the issues raised by the petitioner, adding that he had since returned to his work.

Okiyi said that while two of the suspects were still being detained by EFCC, three others, including Oriaku, would only report to the Commission whenever the need arises.

Two days after the pipeline explosion that claimed many lives in two communities in Abia State, residents of one of the communities have raised the alarm over another leaking pipeline in the area.

The leakage was detected in Umuaduru village in Osisoma Local Goverment Area, with premium motor spirit (petrol) said to be currently gushing out.

The Public Relations Officer of Osisioma Ngwa Youth Congress, Nwabueze Princewill, said the group had contacted the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on it, and they are awaiting response from them.

The group, however, advised residents of the community to steer clear of the areas pending repairs.

This is even as ONYC has lamented that the number of people who died in the NNPC pipeline explosion was up to 60.

They also threatened to drag NNPC to court to seek justice for the families of the victims.

Princewill, in a statement, said, “The entire Osisioma Ngwa Community was rudely awoken in the early hours of Friday, 12th October, 2018, at about 1:00 AM by a fire accident/pipeline explosion that simultaneously happened at Umuimo and Umuaduru villages.

“As at the time of making this report, over 60 persons have been confirmed dead, while about 100 other victims are receiving treatment, with only very slim chances of survival, as the injuries are too severe.

A Nigerian politician, Chikwe Udensi has emerged the World’s best Interpol Systems Innovator.

Udensi shared the news of his achievement on his Facebook page on Friday.

He wrote and posted the picture where the award was presented to him: “Yesterday I bagged a Gold medal award by the International Criminal Police Organisation as the best Interpol Systems Innovator in the world, topping the United States of America that won silver.

“Recently on various social media platforms, the youths of our great nation reiterated the fact that they deserve some accolades
And I tell you all that when you render selfless services to mankind, just sit back, relax and watch as several accolades will trail you.

“Good Afternoon!”

See post below:

Yesterday I bagged a Gold medal award by the International Criminal Police Organisation as the best Interpol Systems…

A Federal High Court, Lagos, has adjourned continuation of trial until March 6 in the N3.2bn fraud charge preferred against ex-governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The EFCC had, on October 31, 2016 preferred 34 counts bordering on N3.2bn fraud against Kalu and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ude Udeogu; and Kalu’s company — Slok Nigeria Ltd.

All the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the resumed trial of the case on Monday, the EFCC Prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), commenced the cross-examination of the second prosecution witness — an officer in First City Monument Bank.

The witness, Olusegun Adesomoju, swore with the Bible.

Jacobs: What is your occupation ?

Witness: I am a compliance officer in FCMB. I received a subpoena to appear in court and produce the statement of account of the third defendant (Slok ) in his bank.

Jacob tendered the statement of account and the certificate of identification from the bank attached to it. The document was labeled Exhibit N to N 50.

Counsel to the first defendant, Mr. Awa Kalu (SAN), told the court that he did not object to the document, but that it was his first time of seeing it.

Mr. Joseph Ochu (SAN), counsel for the second defendant; and Mr. Kingsley Nwofo, counsel for the third defendant, both agreed to the submissions of Kalu.

As Jacobs continued the examination-in-chief, the witness identified 95 cheques deposited in the bank account of the third defendant between August 16, 2001 and August 10, 2005.

Jacobs: Where were you in 2005 ?

Witness: I was doing my National Youth Service Corps.

Jacobs: So why are you giving evidence for the bank ?

Witness: It is part of my duties as compliance officer.

Jacobs: Which department of the bank has records of customers’ accounts ?

Witness: Both the compliance department and the IT department.

After the conclusion of the examination-in-chief, Kalu addressed the court, noting it was the first time the defence was seeing the document and they needed a “stand down” to go through it.

In response, Jacobs told the court : “We have tendered this document since 2007, it is not a new document and I object to the stand down.”

Justice Idris, in his ruling, said, “In the interest of justice, let us come back tomorrow for cross-examination.”

The court adjourned until March 6 for continuation of trial.

Kalu was alleged to have utilised his company to retain in the account of a First Inland Bank, now FCMB, the sum of N200m.

The sum is alleged to have formed part of funds illegally derived from the coffers of the Abia State Government.

Slok Nigeria Ltd and a man, Emeka Abone, who is still at large, were also alleged to have retained in the company’s account the sum of N200m on behalf of the first accused (Kalu).

They allegedly used Manny Bank (now Fidelity Bank Plc), Spring Bank Plc, the defunct Standard Trust Bank and Fin Land Bank, now First City Monument Bank.

The accused were alleged to have retained about N2.5bn in different accounts which funds were said to belong to the Abia Government.

Cumulatively, the accused were alleged to have diverted over N3.2bn from the state government’s treasury during Kalu’s tenure as governor.

The offences contravened the provisions of sections 15(6), 16, and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibitions) Act, 2005.

The offences also violated the Money Laundering Act of 1995 (as amended) Act No. 9 of 2002 and Section 477 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation, 1990.

Security has been beefed up in Umuahia, Abia Statel, as President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osibanjo are expected to arrive on Tuesday for the mega rally of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress.

The rally, which will take place in the Umuahia Towship stadium on School Road, is expected to have APC national chairman, Chief John Oyegun, the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha and other APC chieftains from the South East and across the country in attendance.

As at the time of filling this report, major entry and exit of the Abia was manned by heavily armed and stern-looking security operatives in preparation for the president’s visit.

The State Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Benedict Godson, who spoke to our correspondent on Monday, said the arrangements has been completed to host the president.

He added that the party’s state executive is determined to ensure that no aspect of the mega rally fails on Tuesday.

He said, “We are talking about the visit of the Number citizen of Nigeria here and we are prepared to give him a resounding welcome.

“First of all, Abia State is peaceful; so the security of Mr. President is non-negotiable.

“However, we are also making arrangements for easy flow of vehicular movement in Umuahia on Tuesday to allow residents to go about their normal business without any hindrance.

A huge fire from an explosion at Saclux Paints Industry in Umuahia, Abia State, on Sunday destroyed a missionary school building in the neighbourhood.

The owner of the school, known as Love for Africa Mission, Mr. Emeka Okereke, told the News Agency of Nigeria that a tanker, allegedly bearing ‘black oil,’ exploded inside the company’s premises around 1pm.

He said the fire started with an explosion shortly after they ended the Sunday service at the school.

“We ended the Sunday service around 12:15 pm and I was trying to lock up the gate, when I heard a heavy explosion, accompanied with billows of heavy smoke and fire moving up the sky.

“The incident caused panic and stampede as everyone of us scampered into different directions, including the nearby bush, for safety,” he said.

He said the fire later spread into the school building, which doubles as his family residence, when oil from the exploded tank spilled into the compound.

He said that as the fire raged, some youths in the area made attempts to move into his building in order to rescue some valuables.

Okereke said he restrained them because he feared they might be trapped inside the building.

“But when they insisted and attempted to pull down the entrance gate, I gave them the key with which they entered the compound,” he said.

He said the sympathisers succeeded in pushing out the two jeeps that were parked in the compound, adding that he could not ascertain the extent of the damage, as no other property was recovered from the building.

An eyewitness account said fire fighters from the state fire service came to the scene but could not control the fire due to insufficient water.

NAN gathered that the fire fighters returned to the scene and eventually put out the fire with the assistance of a commercial water tanker driver in the area.

Some residents of other buildings close to the factory evacuated their belongings for fear that the inferno would spread to their houses.

One of the fire fighters, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they encountered “logistics problems” in their efforts to put out the fire.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the state, Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the incident to NAN on phone.

Ogbonna also said no life was lost in the incident and that the fire was successfully controlled. (NAN)